Reported statements
Use reported speech to communicate what someone said without repeating their exact words.
Learning goal: Reported statements
Apply common tense and pronoun changes after a past reporting verb.
In a nutshell
Use reported speech to communicate what someone said without repeating their exact words.
When do we use it?
Apply common tense and pronoun changes after a past reporting verb.
Pattern
Form
After said (that), present often shifts to past and will often shifts to would.
- “I am tired.” → She said she was tired.
- “I will call.” → He said he would call.
Examples
Key contrast
Read the whole context and identify the time, meaning, noun type or sentence structure before choosing.
Watch out
Common mistakes
She said me she was tired.→ She told me she was tired.He said that I am busy.→ He said that he was busy.
Key takeaway
Remember
Use reported speech to communicate what someone said without repeating their exact words.
Self-check
Quick check
- Find the grammar clue.
- Check the subject and verb form.
- Confirm that the answer fits both structure and meaning.
Put it into practice
Ready to test Reported statements?
A short interactive practice session with instant feedback — about 10 questions calibrated to C1 Advanced.
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